an actual chat about motorbikes

I'm in somewhat of a quandry at the moment. As you might know I'm in the
market for a new motorbiscuit, as I've fallen out of love, in fact was never
in love, with what is left of my fireblade. The power delivery is horrible
and the seat very hard.

I've now spent about an hour and a half test riding the ZX10 and the R1 and
the more time I spend on them the more little 'features' I pick up on that I
find less than appealing [1]. I've begun thinking about a Fazer thou.

Since what I need has to be a bike for track days, long jaunts through the
continent and commuting through London traffic it's starting to appeal more
and more. However, being a stumpy fucker it's quite a tall (or wide)
machine, which is it's only downside, ok it's heavy as well. Not the *only*
downside as it's not a full-on sports bike. Will I start smoking a pipe if I
move away from pure sports? Will I ever learn to love a new riding position?
Or shall I just get a car?

 

The fazer thou I think is called the FZ1 here. I think I saw a 2004
model, it had 4 gold anodized pipes. Nice look to it if this is the one.

Wauggh, nooooooooooo.

 

<fx: looks for footnote>

What?

Watch out for those transit vans.

Zed Thou? Monster S4R?

Not as much as it will love you?

Have both. But Swindell will take the piss out of you. Can you
handle it?

 

I don't know the answer to many of your questions, but I will say that
getting rid of my totally sports focussed R6 and getting a far less
sporty, heavier, and ever so slightly quirky ZRX made me really enjoy
riding motorcycles again. I can't quite explain why, but it's just more
fun to chuck it around, and the comfort factor is a huge plus.

I say try something different, and just see if you enjoy it.

 

Yeah but you don't do track days. I'm not riding a fookin ZRX around
Rockingham.

 

The footnote was a list of things I didn't like about each that aren't
mentioned in the mags. I don't know where it went cos I wrote it.

Not much good for long distance work.

 

Hmmm, I really should get around to doing a track day on it.

When's this Rockingham one then?

 

Can't see how they're worse than a Fazer. I mean, really - if you
want to tour, you need a fairing. If you want to do track days, you
want a sprots bike. If you want to commute, you probably want neither
of those things.

Quite seriously, why don't you think about two bikes, or even three?
You were about to spend - what? - nine grand on a new clit bike. How
about a two year old Busa for touring, a manky old heap of an SRAD
GSXR750 for trackdays for a couple of grand, and something small and
nimble for commuting.

 

Why not?

Just because they're not faired?

 

Well from the online reviews, and the review in Ride [1], it suggests the
Fazer is capable at all. It's allegedly sweet for wind protection, and the
engine and handling good enough for track days. It's just the height and
weight that are bothering me.

[1] Yeah I know it's diRe, but all you get from Superbike is power/weight
ratios and handling. There's no mention of the R1's vibey action (IMO),
making the mirrors all but useless after 4 thousand rpm and the noise that
makes earplugs necessary for anything other than pushing the thing out of
the garage. As for multiple bikes, there's the insurance to consider and the
storage. It seemed that if the Fazer was as good as is reported then it's a
Jack of all trades, and good with it.

 

No definite plans yet. Just haven't been there yet.

 

Get a Laverda Jota, Ducati 900ss or Guzzi Le Mans. Will do everything
you want.

With the added self-esteem bonus of taming a 70s Italian superbike.
Riding one quickly is something to behold, a very real and yet visceral
experience.

You could get one for the cost of the depreciation of the ZX10 and still
sell it for the same money two years later.

And stuffing one of those past a modern sports machine is a very
satisfying feeling.

 

Honda Goldwing. Try that on a track day.

--
Cab :^) - Ormiga Atomica
GSX1400 - 'Tarts Handbag [1]' (tm) Bike, dead 550/4 Rat
UKRMMA#10 (KoTL), IbW#015, Bob#4, POTM#3

P.S. Remove your_bollox from the cab. ICQ: 83023471

 

It really is an old ****'s bike, though, isn't it.

My multibike policy for the Bandit, the CBR600 and the VFR800 was
cheaper than I could insure the VFR for on its own.

That is a problem to which a solution would no doubt become apparent
when the situation presents itself.

 

Pay attention at the back.
The answer is Gixxer Thou. It's comfortable. It tours. It fucks right off
into the distance on road and track. It handles incredibly well. It's cheap
to buy. It's reliable. No vibes. Well enough finished that a few hundred
quid can't make it Siberian Winter proof.

Ace myself and other keep making these points but y'all keep asking again.

Just one catch, it'll kill you if you aren't up to the job.

 

I'm thinking of giving it a whirl.

 

And yet in the next sentence you lay claim to a VFR!! Damning indeed.
Consider it out of the equation, next up the GSXR or a new Fireblade. So
really just the Gixxer then.

 

But that was my old ****'s bike. You'll notice that I also had a
sprots bike for medium-speed antics, and a bike for doing wheelies,
and a bike to claim was a classic. That's the key - a bike for all
possibilities.

Do it. Bet you can't.

 

What about a 'Busa fullstop?

Or doesn't that commute overly well?

 

I hope Porl gets one then